Just brought home this 15. Seller said it was a 2006, but that's because it says 2006 on the emissions sticker on the cowling. Looking up the serial tells me it's a 2001. This is my first Honda outboard, and these things are tracked by model and serial differently than something like a Yamaha or a Johnson. I'll have to get that system nailed down good before I start ordering parts.
So here's what I know so far. The seller said the pinion gear is stripped, and it is. He said they used gasket in a tube for the exhaust, and they did. He briefly said something about the lower getting fried, but he didn't elaborate.
I dug into it a few minutes ago and played detective for a while and I think I have an idea of what might have happened. All the bolts were hand tight or worse, and when I dropped the lower, this tube fell out. I messed around and got the next piece of the body removed so I could see where this water tube is supposed to be connected. I don't know if this tube was actually seated in the hole where it belongs. It might even need to be installed before the exhaust manifold so that it is captive. Not sure yet. If that tube was not installed correctly, then you'd get a really hot motor, I imagine. I don't know if that would cook the lower and the pinion gear.
For the pinion gear, it looks like there is a bolt on the end of the shaft, and I might be able to just pull the bolt and swap in a new gear. I'll see what I can find about that.
So here's what I know so far. The seller said the pinion gear is stripped, and it is. He said they used gasket in a tube for the exhaust, and they did. He briefly said something about the lower getting fried, but he didn't elaborate.
I dug into it a few minutes ago and played detective for a while and I think I have an idea of what might have happened. All the bolts were hand tight or worse, and when I dropped the lower, this tube fell out. I messed around and got the next piece of the body removed so I could see where this water tube is supposed to be connected. I don't know if this tube was actually seated in the hole where it belongs. It might even need to be installed before the exhaust manifold so that it is captive. Not sure yet. If that tube was not installed correctly, then you'd get a really hot motor, I imagine. I don't know if that would cook the lower and the pinion gear.
For the pinion gear, it looks like there is a bolt on the end of the shaft, and I might be able to just pull the bolt and swap in a new gear. I'll see what I can find about that.